I never watched the TV show this movie is based on. The way I understand it was that the character is kind of a one man A-team. In that he’s living under an assumed name, was a covert something or other back in the day, and helps people who need it.
The movie is roughly the same I think, except it’s more of an origin story. At the outset Denzel is working at Lowe’s helping a co-worker shed some weight so he can qualify for a job (presumably an upgrade) as a security guard. Denzel’s a bit of an insomniac and can nightly be found reading a novel at a 24-hour diner. Where he’s quasi befriended an underage prostitute (trying to help her too, but more in a friendship capacity). He ostensibly stays out of her business until she ends up hospitalized after a beating from her pimp. He then attempts to purchase her freedom from the Russian pimp. The pimp rudely refuses the offer. Denzel’s character has had light OCD the whole movie and you can tell he’s tightly wound (think sober version of Man on Fire) and he gleefully flies off the handle. The pimp has a rough night. And Denzel seems to acquire a taste for more forcefully helping people. And so the film goes from there.
I liked the movie but it was kind of… Well sober Man on Fire. The violence is solid but it kind of peaks in the first sequence. The following action never quite reaches the coolness of the first encounter. He also kind of Sherlock style plans out some of the violence beforehand, but that kind of hurts the tone as director Antione Fuqua is going for serious and some of the moves are a tad far fetched. They’d play better as spontaneous. Now that I think on it I haven’t liked anything Fuqua has done since Training Day. So this is better than his usual stuff.
The Russian troubleshooter (called in to find out what happened) could have been a pretty awesome bad guy but isn’t really given anything to do other than react to phone calls and get shot. Well, that’s not true he does deliver one epic ass beating. But I think this film suffered from the Superman problem. Denzel’s character is often too omnipotent in his abilities. Not that there isn’t some cool shit in the film, because there is. But one is only moderately concerned about the eventual outcome.
Fun but not at all mandatory viewing. I hear tell there may be a sequel. Hopefully with some more competent antagonists.